Apple today released macOS Monterey 12.1 and iPadOS 15.2 release candidates to developers and public beta testers. The release notes of both updates do not feature Universal Control making it clear that it will not be arriving in the upcoming software updates.
Universal Control continues to be delayed
Much to our dismay, there is no mention of Universal Control in the release notes for macOS Monterey 12.1 or iPadOS 15.2 neither has the feature been introduced in any of the betas. The release candidates which were released today represent the final versions of the upcoming software updates that are expected to be released next week.
Apple sometimes releases second RC versions to address bugs or other minor issues, but new features are highly unlikely to be added at the stage.
Universal Control was announced at WWDC 21. The feature allows users to use their Mac keyboard and trackpad or mouse to move between an iPad or another Mac and control it. For example, if you need to work on an illustration on your tablet, you can move content to your Mac if you keep the devices close to each other. You can also drag and drop files between an iPad and Mac without having to go through any sort of setup process.
The feature requires zero setup but users do need to be logged in to their devices with their Apple ID and have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on
With macOS Monterey 12.1 and iPadOS 15.2 expected to launch next week ahead of the Christmas holiday, it seems highly unlikely that Universal Control will launch before the end of 2021 despite Apple’s support page listing the features as “available later this fall.”
Alongside the much-delayed SharePlay feature for Mac, the release candidate for macOS Monterey 12.1 also includes support for the Siri-powered Apple Music Voice Plan, safety features for children, improvements to built-in apps, and much more.
The release candidate for iOS 15.2 RC and iPadOS 15.2 also features the recently announced Apple Music Voice Plan, alongside a number of iOS 15 features that were previously announced but delayed: App Privacy Report, Communication Safety in Messages, Digital Legacy for Apple ID, Hide My Email for iCloud+, and more.
Read more:
